NEW GRIZ GLAD TO CALL ‘GRINDHOUSE’ HOME
FedExForum’s nickname “speaks for itself,” says center Kosta Koufos.
FedExForum wasn’t exactly one of Kosta Koufos’ favorite places to visit while playing for the Denver Nuggets.
Now, the 7-foot center can’t wait to get into the place as a member of the Grizzlies. Koufos was introduced to the Memphis media Monday afternoon after being obtained in a draft-night trade last Thursday for forward Darrell Arthur and the draft rights to Joffrey Lauvergne.
“The Grindhouse, that speaks for itself,” Koufos said. “Everybody here works hard and bangs on the boards. Toughness is one word when you think of the Memphis Grizzlies when I played for the Denver Nuggets that you stamp on the Mem- phis Grizzlies. I fit that role very well.”
One of the Grizzlies’ top priorities in this
offseason was to get bigger and more skilled on their front line. So Grizzlies CEO Jason Levien found a player who stuck it to the Grizzlies last year. On March 15, Koufos had 18 points and a career-high 16 rebounds against the Grizzlies to go with three blocked shots in 31 minutes.
“Kosta is not only a very skilled athlete and skilled player, he was a bit of a thorn in our side,” Levien said. “He had a terrific year and showed a lot of growth and development in his game.”
Koufos, 24, averaged 8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.27 blocks in 81 starts for the Nuggets last year. He will serve as a backup to center Marc Gasol, last year’s NBA Defensive Player of the Year.
Koufos said he has no problem coming off the bench for the Grizzlies. He’s just looking forward to fitting in with his new teammates.
“I’m here to play hard and work hard,” he said. “I’m very fortunate and very blessed to be a part of this organization and to be a part of the NBA. I’m living my dream to be a young center in this league and I’m still learning and still growing.
“At the same time, I feel very confident in my abilities and what I bring to the table.
“So whatever role (coach Dave Joerger) wants me to play, I’m going to play hard and play to the best of my ability and help the team win as many games this year and get into the postseason.”
Joerger, a former Grizzlies assistant coach who was named as Lionel Hollins’ successor last week, said he plans to use his new big man in a variety of ways.
“We’ll put him on the move,” Joerger said. “I feel he’s a guy that can play with Zach (Randolph), he can play with Ed (Davis) and he can play with Marc, at times. I’m not afraid to try any of those.”
Earlier in the day, the Grizzlies introduced their two second-round draft picks, Jamaal Franklin and Janis Timma.
Franklin is a 6-5 shooting guard out of San Diego State who is known as an athletic slasher.
He averaged 17 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.6 steals per game last season as he was the only NCAA Division 1 player to lead his team in all four categories.
Timma, a 6-7 forward from Latvia, played for BK Ventspils in the Latvian Basketball League where he averaged 12.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists.
Timma will play with the Grizzlies’ summer league team in Las Vegas this month, and afterward they will decide if they will let him remain in Europe next season.